Manage major marketing channel for a MB company or...

Question

own all online marketing strategy for a company with 100MM+ revenue?

Please take a read:

At my current position, I am one of two managers directing and owning one of the largest online marketing spends in the world for a publicly traded company with multi-billion dollar revenues. Our channel drives a significant chunk of that rev. I have significant exposure to executive leadership on a daily basis. Let's imagine that my compensation is 117K a year. I am "only" a manager (keep in mind that director-level individuals routinely step into manager positions at this company in this particular channel simply because we manage/own such a huge amount of spend, the compensation is fairly aggressive, etc.). I imagine this subtlety difficult to communicate to ad coms.

I have the opportunity to join an ecommerce company which is, relative to the company I am currently at, significantly smaller in terms of rev, total employees, ad spend, etc. However, I'd have a large team of direct reports, and I would build and lead multiple significant online marketing channels. Compensation is in the 165K range. I'd also receive a senior director position.

Can I hear b-schooler feedback on which opportunity is most likely to carry weight with ad com? Both jobs have significant appeal to me, and my passion for b-school may help me reach a decision.

Thanks for the read.

Jerz · Answer

I think what's more important to adcoms than position, salary or employer is what you've done in the position. What impact have you had on the organization? Certainly on the surface, going from a manager role to a sr. director role, with a $50k bump in pay looks like a big promotion, but beyond that which role would provide you with better examples of your leadership and other skills?

As I've met more and more current students and admitted students, it's become pretty clear that there is no "right" work experience or role that will wow the adcom, because after reviewing thousands of applications each year they've pretty much seen it all.

isa · Answer

To add to what Jerz said, I've constantly been hearing that you need to able to demonstrate growth. Not just with titles and paychecks, but also with increased responsibility and impact at work.

ncp · Answer

117K to 165K is a huge jump. Why are you looking at an MBA if you are already this successful? Are you looking to change careers (or) get the MBA rubber stamp? Just curious, 99% of the MBA jobs wont get a higher salary than 165K and most people wont have many direct reports either.

rhyme · Answer

Yea, I was about to ask if I could have the 165K job if he doesn't take it.

For what its worth, being that you already have the huge ad spend experience, I'd probably go for the 165K job so that you can demonstrate broad/substantial people management experience.

riverripper · Answer

Sounds like Part-time or executive MBA are better options for you.

dominion · Answer

Hi everyone,

Thanks for the feedback.

To answer a couple of questions, I'm looking to change careers from an online marketer to a corporate strategist. Additionally, the reoccurring theme I've seen at my current place of employment is that an MBA from a top program is a HUGE enabler of professional growth. Several senior execs hail from Booth, Kellogg, and Harvard, many of them making the leaps to their current/immediately prior positions post b-school.

It may sound cheesy, but I've dreamed of attending a top b school for the last two to three years. I never expected to join the company I'm at or have the opportunity to switch at such a high compensation level, but that said, the dream of attending Kellogg, Harvard, Booth > any immediate compensation or near term monetary reward. God willing, I am going to a top b-school.

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

Manage major marketing channel for a MB company or...

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